An Unlikely Hero

Chapter 12

"How does it feel to be on your first world tour? How did the first concert go?"

"It was honesty riveting, but it didn't really hit me that we were on a world tour until we left the country" Every word I spoke was quickly scratched down on the pad of paper. Thankfully my mask was on so no one on set could see me anxiously looking around and my occasionally glare at the pencil in the interviewers hand. 

"I have a question people are dying to know. Why do you hide your face?" She asked. I crossed my legs. The black height waisted shorts I was wearing were riding up making sitting down uncomfortable. The sides had a casing sewing stitch that scrunched up the fabric. The top was cute though. It was a transparent red layer over a dark red tube top like shirt. The neckline was tight like a choker and there were holes in the loose shoulder sleeves. The design was a black and red plaid. Black knee high lace-up boots pulled the whole look together. For this interview my red hair was down and straightened. I had never felt more grateful to wear a mask after waiting for the others to get their makeup done.   

"To be honest, it isn't anything special. I just don't want to spend hours in makeup like the others." I laughed. I tried to keep the mood light and going in a direction I can control. 

"I heard that you're originally from here. Wisconsin to be exact. What's it like being back home?" The question stunned me for a second. I had never told any fans or other interviewed that I was from Wisconsin. My lack of accent when speaking English would be a good enough reason to assume I'm not originally from Japan, but nothing else. 

"I don't know where you heard that, but that is true. I was born in Wisconsin, but I moved often as a child so there really isn't a certain 'place' I can confidently call home. In the states at least. I really enjoy living in Japan and I'd like to think I can call it home now that I live there" I added. I wanted to shift this conversation to something else.

"Why did you move when you were a kid?" The interviewer asked. I bit my lip. This was bad. It was a basic rule in interviews to control the conversation at all times. 

"I-" I began, but was cut off by Juugo calling me. 

"What do you need Ju?" I asked him. He crossed his arms and motioned his head to the door. 

"Vira says she needs your help" He said. I nodded and stood up. 

"Please excuse me for a second" I rushed out of the room and into Vira's dressing room. 

"Ah. I'm saved" I sighed. Vira chuckled. 

"The manger was getting worried and texted me to help out." She explained. I nodded and grabbed her brush to run through my hair a few times before leaving again. 

Most of the interviews went well. There were a few who went a bit too far, but I was able to steer the conversation in another direction. 

We had all gathered in the hotel we were staying in for the night and shown to our separate rooms. We finally arrived in Chicago. The halfway point in our tour. Europe and Japan went great and we could only hope it went well here to. 

I arranged my things in my room. My whole body ached from having to spend the last few nights on the bus. It was really nice. Everything was modern and had a really slick look. Its interior was all black and white with the wood being a dark color. In the back there were bunkbed like things. It was like sleeping on the floor with only a blanket under you, and all of the shaking made it hard to get to sleep. Not only that, but every time I close my eyes I see my parents bodies. This was normal around this time of the year, but I think being in the same place they died amplified the nightmares. I had never spent their death anniversary in the same place they died. Elias and I moved not even a month after they died. We stayed just long enough for their funeral.